Month: May 2019

Floridians are obsessed with the novelty of food trucks. Over the past 10 years, this craze has proven to be more than just a temporary trend emerging in local communities. With the ever-growing art and brewing culture, it is only natural that having good food options would complement the events. What started as holiday or weekend festivities has turned into a daily offering of great new experiences for locals, whether they are going out on a first date, or organizing a meet-up with friends.

What were once known as “roach coaches” have become some of the most sought-out food eateries in major cities. If you’re looking to start your own small business – and you don’t want to go the traditional office or storefront route – then you might consider starting a food cart or food truck.

But while this business type is fun to run, it’s no easy task. Some of the most successful owners report 60-hour work weeks. The rewards, however, can be great – from media attention and social media fans who swarm when you arrive, to the satisfaction that you’re providing a decent meal to the hungry.

If these goals and working style draw your attention, consider this ten-step plan for food truck success.

Licensing

Nothing’s simple in the small business world, and you can’t just drive a food truck or set up a cart wherever you’d like. Cities have various requirements, including health department certificates, truck permits, and parking restrictions. Every city has its own policies, so contact your local government to get the facts.

Be prepared for obstacles. Some cities put a cap on the number of truck permits that they will issue. If they’re maxed out, you’ll be on a long waiting list since some permits don’t expire for 15 years. Other communities don’t allow food carts or trucks to park in public space; you’ll have to find private parking with access to a crowded area, which is a very difficult task. Once you’ve figured out how to get the licenses and permits you need, it will be smoother sailing. Check out some of the legal requirements for Florida here.

Truck or Cart?

If your funding  is tight, then a food cart may be the best place to start. You should be able to find a cart for about $2,000, which is much more affordable than the $100,000 that it takes to buy a new food truck.

Why are they so expensive? Health departments have the same rules for food trucks as they do for restaurants, so your vehicle will need expensive specialty equipment. If you want to get a truck without shelling out the six-figure cost, you can probably find a fully prepared used truck between $20,000 and $40,000. Check online sites like UsedVending.com or CommercialTruckTrader.com to find good deals on used trucks in your area.

Before settling on a truck or cart, plan out exactly what you’ll need to run your business. If you intend to sell pizza or other hot foods that you’ll need to prepare on-site, you’ll need a large truck. If, on the other hand, you can prepare food in advance in your home or commercial kitchen, then you can just keep your wares warm in a cart or smaller truck. Picture the hot dog vendors who keep their dogs warm in their sidewalk carts. Because this will be the largest expense in your new business, you need to get it right. After all, you don’t want to spend $40,000 on a truck when you can do just as well with a $2,000 cart.

Choose a Niche

To run a successful food truck business, you may want to forget about tacos and cold sandwiches. The most well known and loved food trucks serve gourmet cuisine, delicacies from other countries, healthy foods, and artisan desserts like unique cupcakes and exclusive chocolates.

Do your research to find out what popular food trucks already exist in your local area, what types of food are oversaturated, and dream up an appealing concept that is sorely needed in your community.

Financing

If you have the dream and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Create a Business Plan

As with any other business, you’ll need to dedicate time and research to your business plan. Once you have your loan squared away, research the costs of permits, cleaning equipment, ingredients, and other costs, and figure out how much you’ll need to sell every month to make a profit. If this is your first time writing a business plan, take a look at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s basic tips. Remember that the better planning you can present, the better your chances are for getting the best financing to start your small business.

Getting Insured

Your mobile business will require some major insurance costs. Think about the risks involved with a business that is moving around from location to location. Talk with an agent, and describe exactly what purpose the truck will serve. Depending on the equipment needed to create and serve your patrons, these details will factor into the type of insurance you will require.

Where to Park

If you are planning to go big and get a truck instead of a cart, you’ll quickly find that there can be some issues when it comes to parking. Consider if your neighborhood association let you park it in front of your home. If you have off-street parking, will it be safe overnight with all your equipment? Some health departments require that vendors park only in approved facilities with refrigeration and electricity. You may be able to rent a private parking space so you’ll be sure to have a place to go that’s safe and legal. Do your research to discover what guidelines to follow for your area.

Network

The food truck business isn’t just about setting up in crowded areas during lunch. Many vendors also generate brisk business by catering special events and corporate functions. Event planners will pay you to be on their property during an event so the attendees will have access to good food and a high-profile brand name.

Join local associations and organizations that cater to business owners in your community, like the Chamber of Commerce. Use your networking skills to meet the people who can pass along your name as a recommended caterer.

Take Advantage of Social Media

Social Media is the best way to generate a buzz around your business. People love to check in to the places they are visiting and food trucks are no different. Many trucks utilize Twitter and Instagram to announce where they will be appearing, and the greater your following, the more patrons will seek you out to experience more of the goodness you serve. Create a catchy hashtag that satisfied customers can use to tag the photos they will snap of your yummy offerings. Happy customers will do the marketing for you!

Don’t Stop

Once you’ve built up your following and your brand has taken off, start thinking about merchandising. You can sell t-shirts and promotional items online and in person. The bigger your brand and the more unique your idea is, the more willing your customers will be when it comes to advertising for you by wearing a cool sweatshirt or hat. In addition, once you have some recognition, you’ll be able to approach local grocers and coffee shops about selling your food in their shops.

Florida, the Time is NOW

With the opportunities for small businesses booming, why wait another moment. What is keeping you down? Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

Anyone who lives in Florida – South Florida in particular – will tell you about how popular microbreweries are. You would think that by now the market would be totally oversaturated, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The culture is still growing faster than ever. Everyone is looking for a new cool spot to hang out, and in areas where there are already brewing establishments, people are attracted to the ability to hop around between locations. This is a great draw during art and music events. If you can cultivate your own little micro community of breweries with their own individual atmospheres, it really just generates an appeal to the community and draws in more business. So this is your dream, but where do you start?

Mixing Magic

This requires a little more than your basic knowledge of beer. You should understand how to make it, and further more, you should experiment with different brew recipes to find your specialty and determine what you wish to sell. Most brewers opt to sell several types of custom beer — some light or pale varieties and some darker beers. If you don’t understand what this means, you definitely need to start educating yourself. Being a successful brewery is more than just liking beer.

Do Your Research

If you want to create a concept that hasn’t already been done, or if you want to create a fusion of your favorites, you must visit other brewpubs and microbreweries to see what works and what does not. It’s recommended to go into these visits with a good understanding of the industry by reading books, trade magazines and websites. When you go on your visits, prepare some questions to ask those that work there, and the owners if possible.

Location, Location, Location

Scout a location for your brewpub or microbrewery and determine which you want to open. An establishment that makes and sells beer is a microbrewery; a business that makes and sells beer along with food in a restaurant is considered a brewpub. The right location will accommodate your business needs by being; large enough for brewing equipment; in a high-traffic area; and in compliance with zoning regulations. Buying or leasing a location that was previously used as a brewpub or microbrewery can help, because the building may include some equipment and be set up for kitchen and dining areas.

Put Your Plan Together

Develop a business plan and do a feasibility analysis. Include information about your proposed business, such as business location; the types of beer you plan to sell, including ingredient specifications and suppliers; the volume of business you anticipate; and a marketing plan. The plan should include specifics about how much beer you plan to produce and sell and what level of sales will make the business profitable. Outline whether you plan to sell food and what the menu will include. The business plan must also explain how you plan to fund the business. The feasibility analysis will help you determine how solid and financially sound your business idea is.

Financial Planning

Opening a brewpub or microbrewery can cost as much as $25,000 to start up, at the time of publication, plus an additional investment if revenue does not meet initial goals. If you have the dream and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Hop on Those Ingredients & Equipment

Buy beer-making equipment and ingredients. You will need brew kettles and tanks as well as other supplies — boilers, refrigeration, and filtration equipment — to make the beer. Develop a relationship with vendors who will supply ingredients — such as barley, hops, yeast and flavorings — and materials for your business. Also plan to buy items for your location, from tables and chairs to decor and dishware to glasses for your brew.

You Definitely Need a Business License

Apply for a business license, insurance and any applicable alcohol-beverage-control licenses, which vary by state.

People Make the Business Successful

Hire a good team to support and run the business. You will need someone to handle business finances, a lawyer to oversee contracts and help with licensing, an accountant to handle taxes and staff to keep the brewpub or microbrewery running. MrGoodbeer.com recommends working as a bartender before opening your brewpub or microbrewery or hiring bartenders to get a feel for the business operation and clientele. If you plan to serve food, hire a professional cook or chef.

Spread the Word

Market your business. The best way to get people to try your brew is to get the word out about it. You may have to sell your product under cost initially with promotions such as “Happy Hour” specials that include discounted beer. Watch your sales and keep the most-bought ales in supply — customers often choose beers that taste similar to mainstream brands. Having a product that people want and good customer service will bring customers back.

Florida, the Time is NOW

With the opportunities for small businesses booming, why wait another moment. What is keeping you down? Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

Fitness is on everyone’s minds these days, and there is no better time to start a fitness center, gym or training facility. Whether the goal is to become a personal trainer, create fitness workshops, or just start a gym, everyone wants to get a piece of the action. Florida is right up there leading the health and fitness movement. With beautiful beaches, tropical climates and celebrities galore, the pressure is on for everyone to stay in their best shape.

So how to do you take the first steps towards making your own fitness business a reality? We have 8 steps to follow to successfully start your own gym or fitness center.

Get Certified

You don’t necessarily need to obtain a professional fitness qualification before starting your own gym, but accreditation from groups like The American Council on Exercise or the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association could ultimately bolster your chances and make it easier to obtain a business loan. It shows knowledge, dedication and credibility.

More important still, it’s definitely worth obtaining a personal trainer or fitness certification and trying out these roles in a non-management capacity before you hop right into the deep end and  start your own gym. Not only will you be able to test the waters to ensure you’re happy with the industry, but you’ll also be able to make contacts and develop a client base that will follow you to your new gym.

Find Financing

Once you’re content within the industry and know what type of gym you’d like to set up, you’re going to need to suss out where you’ll find the money to start up. Experts say it usually takes around $50,000 in order to set up a gym — but a lot of that will depend on where you’re setting up shop. Fortunately, we have the knowledge and experience to help you obtain the funding needed!

If you have the dream and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Be Strategic About Location

Location will most likely be a key factor within your business plan, since location is often critical to a gym’s survival. First and foremost, you’ll want to do a bit of market research about your anticipated client base. Figure out what key demographics will account for the bulk of your foot traffic, and figure out where a high concentration of those individuals can be found. Accessibility and convenience are important to most gym members. Try and find somewhere readily accessible by car, foot and public transport.

Meanwhile, you’ll need to be thinking about rent. Renting is the best option for brand new businesses, and this will need to be factored into your initial operating expenses. You must also ensure that you’ve got written permission from your landlord or the building’s owners to make alterations or conduct building work. After all, you may need to alter the property layout in line with regulatory guidelines.

Source the Right Equipment

Once you’ve got financing and the perfect location, you’ll need to turn your empty space into a vibrant gym. That will take a lot of equipment — and it won’t come cheap.

You’ll definitely need to purchase basic free weight equipment for serious lifters. That includes bench presses, squat racks, dead lift mats, dumbbells and racks for curls and dips. You’ll also want to have cardio equipment like bikes, rowing machines and treadmills. For reference, you can track down a decent treadmill starting at around $150 each. But depending on your startup size, you may want to buy multiple machines. Isolation equipment like leg press, tricep extension and chest fly machines are also popular gym staples.

Gyms with classes also tend to be significantly more successful, so consider leading (or hiring someone else to lead) Zumba or yoga classes. You’ll need studio space and communal equipment for these classes. It all adds up very quickly, but it’s all essential in order to ensure you have the equipment your members will expect. It will be well worth it!

Consider Licensing Requirements

As a gym owner, you’ll be expected to apply for most of the permits and licenses that any other business owner would need to obtain. You’ll need to register for an Employer Identification number and local and federal taxes. Unlike most businesses, you probably won’t need to apply for a federal business licence, but you will be forced to comply with a range of state oversight. In California, for example, licensed gyms are required to have automated external defibrillators and staff trained in CPR. You’ll also need a written emergency plan developed by a physician.

On top of various state licensing guidelines, you’ll also need to observe municipal rules on building and business zoning. When in doubt, you should always consult a legal expert before firing off permit applications willy-nilly.

Understand Your Insurance Needs

If you plan on starting a gym, insurance is absolutely crucial. It’s important for any business owner. But loads of people are going to be taking part in potentially hazardous activities on your premises on a daily basis. High-intensity exercise can be unsafe for some, and so you’ve got to ensure both patrons and your business are legally and financially protected from major accidents.

In addition to your ordinary, run-of-the-mill business insurance, it’s worth taking a look at gym liability insurance. Depending on state or municipal laws, liability insurance might even be an operational requirement before you’re allowed to obtain a permit. If you’re forking out a reasonable amount of money on equipment, you may also want to consider equipment coverage as part of a separate policy.

There are several insurance providers that specialize in these types of coverage. It’s also worth including a clause within member contracts that will prevent them from pursuing legal action against you or your business in the event of a self-caused injury.

Hire Wisely

Most startup owners spend an unhealthy amount of time on the job — but you can’t possibly run a gym without some help. And you’ll need to ensure you’re hiring qualified and accredited individuals to join the team.

A good idea would be to aim for multiple in-house personal trainers or bring in trainers on a freelance basis to offer your patrons guidance. That said, you should vet each individual and ensure they are properly certified. Likewise, if you’re offering classes, you’ll want to bring in licensed or accredited instructors who know what they are doing. If you’re bringing them in as independent contractors, you should make sure they are personally insured, too.

Get Started

Once you’ve got insurance and have met all permit and licensing requirements, you’re almost ready to get started. As you’re setting up your new premises, be sure to consult municipal authorities to ensure you are meeting any layout requirements that may exist. You’ll also need to ensure you’re properly supplied in terms of utilities, get everything set up and provide adequate induction training for staff to ensure everyone is on the same page prior to your start date.

From there, it’s simply a matter of marketing  your business and doing everything else you can do get people in the door. As outlined, it always helps to have your own steady client base handy in order to have an initial, built-in customer base. That may also be a deciding factor in the personal trainers or class leaders you ultimately bring on as staff.

But in terms of appealing to new clients to win your local market share, you should always start online. Social media and the web can be very helpful in marketing your business. That being said, traditional local advertising is also something you will likely need to consider. Be creative. Know your demographics, and reach out to those individuals wherever possible.

Just remember that no two businesses are alike, and you may run into a few unanticipated hurdles along the way. You’ve just got to roll with the punches — and when in doubt, never be afraid to seek out professional advice.

Florida, the Time is NOW

With the opportunities for small businesses booming, why wait another moment. What is keeping you down? Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

In case you haven’t been keeping up with our latest blogs, we want you to know what a good time it is to invest in Florida businesses. Whether you are going in with a partner, or you have decided to start the business completely on your own – here is a helpful list of the top 10 Florida industries to invest into for 2019 (Stay tuned at the end of the post for helpful information about obtaining funds).

1. Fitness/recreation business: exercise has long been found to be the bedrock of healthy living, and almost everyone wants to boast of having visited the gym at least once or twice in a week. With this trend, opening a fitness center would surely pay you, and considering the population of Florida, you may likely make a success out of your business if you have the right marketing strategies.

2. Retail: retailing is not a novel business idea, but it is still thriving as far as the economy is still viable. If you have good marketing skills, you can choose a niche and start your retailing business. You can approach manufacturers and offer them your services. If you build trust with them, you could be given goods on credit for you to pay later.

3. Wholesale and distribution: similar to retail, you can start a business where you become wholesale distributor for companies. Note that this business may be a bit capital intensive, but you can also start it on your own capacity and expand it as you go along.

4. Advertising and promotion: with a lot of big and small businesses in Florida competing for the market, a business centered on advertising and marketing would be quite profitable in the state. If you are good with putting up promotional materials that can draw people to the products you are marketing, then maybe you should set up an advertising service.

5. Microbrewery: Microbreweries and craft beer remain greatly popular in the United States. The industry was worth more than $22 billion in 2015. If you are a craft beer hobbyist, it might be time to take your recipes to the next level. You could make unique beers and sell them at select pubs. The selling point for microbrewery is their emphasis on unique flavor, the quality of their beer and their brewing technique.

6. Food truck: The food truck industry is growing an alarming rate. In 2015, the industry’s total revenue was $1.2 billion, with a five-year increase of 12.4%. For those with big culinary dreams but small risk tolerance, food trucks are a winning alternative to restaurants. Food trucks are much less expensive to start and operate, and the failure rate of food trucks is much lower than conventional restaurants.

7. Remote employee monitoring: most employees need to be monitored before they can produce effective results. The interesting thing is that you don’t just monitor physical employees, you can equally monitor those that work remotely. Since the typical workforce is becoming more and more remote, so it then means that the remote employee monitoring service is booming. You can start this business and offer your services to organisations in Florida.

8. Virtual reality: the virtual reality world is really gaining momentum. It has been found that people bought over 12 million VR headsets in 2016. You can leverage on this healthy business to make money in Florida.

9. Healthy vending machines: the healthy vending machine industry is grossing over $42 billion because people now want to eat healthier. With about $30,000 to $225,000 at hand, you can become the operator/owner of a healthy vending machine franchise. This industry is still growing and it would not take much of your time because it is a mostly passive business.

10. Software school: If you are familiar with the use of specialized software, you can build a business around teaching people how to use everyday software like Photoshop, QuickBooks etc. You can start by giving private lessons where you charge hourly, then you can grow it into a small group session and charge for complete tutorials. You can always hire other specialists and diversify.

Florida, the Time is NOW

With the opportunities for small businesses booming, why wait another moment. What is keeping you down? Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584